Australian Scientists Head To India

Four Australian scientists will travel to India in 2017 to undertake ground-breaking research at some of India’s leading research institutions.

The researchers will investigate new superconductors for use in experimental fusion power generators, new ways of identifying bacteria developing resistance to antibiotic medications, the way in which black rats spread disease in different parts of India, and the effect of music on the recovery of patients with heart failure.

The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund Fellows have been selected by the Australian Academy of Science from a competitive field of applicants, and will receive $88,000 from the Australian Government to undertake their research.

President of the Australian Academy of Science Professor Andrew Holmes said that the Fellowships are an important component of Australia’s engagement with global scientific enterprise and serve to strengthen existing ties between researchers in Australia and India, the world’s second-most populous country and an emerging scientific superpower.

“These Fellowships support high-performing Australian researchers to work with leading Indian scientists at major institutions. They facilitate greater collaboration between our two countries on science, technology and innovation,” said Professor Holmes.

Fellowship recipients are:

Dr Md Shahriar Hossain (University of Wollongong) will investigate superconductors for low-cost fusion power for a sustainable future, with the Institute for Plasma Research.

Dr Vicki Thomson (University of Adelaide) will work with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research to study the disease risk from black rat species in India.

Dr Samia Toukhsati (Austin Health, Vic) will research the effect of relaxing music on the autonomic nervous system in heart failure patients, with Manipal University and Kasturba Medical College and Hospital.

Dr Mike Williams (CSIRO Land and Water, SA) will look at identifying antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance in the Moosi River near Hyderabad using chemical and biochemical markers, with the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.

The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund is Australia’s largest fund dedicated to bilateral research with any country and is one of India’s largest sources of support for international science.

A reciprocal fellowships scheme funded by the Indian Government will support Indian scientists to visit Australia from early 2017.